Bhupendra Patel, the newly-elected chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation standing committee has promised no hike in Property Tax this year.

He told The Indian Express that there is a limit to hiking Property Tax and expecting people to pay the same without any objection.

The AMC has to balance its expenditures with its revenue-generation capacity without subjecting the people to pay extra tax.

Though the grants in lieu of the Octroi levy might not be as per the expectations, but then we can always put forth our demand for increase in the quantum of grant because it is the backbone of AMCs finances, he said. He detailed his plans for the newly-merged areas, where civic elections were held for the first time. My priorities for these areas are to provide good roads, water and drainage and street lighting because they have been lacking them for quite a long time, he said.

Patel said he was yet to meet the civic officials, with whom he wants to organise meetings zone wise to get a better grasp of the pressing issues.

He said he was new to the kind of administration the AMC had become over the years and that he would welcome suggestions from all quarters.

With his predecessor Asit Vora as the new mayor, there will be ample advice on project implementation and dossiers on the ongoing works and the like, Patel added.